Importance of agency in happiness?

Agency plays a crucial role in achieving happiness by empowering individuals to actively engage with their surroundings and make impactful choices. According to Dr. Paul Conti, as discussed in the Huberman Lab, having agency means recognizing what one can control and taking actions that lead to desired outcomes. This proactive stance fosters a sense of empowerment and gratitude, which are key contributors to happiness 1.

Empowerment arises from a healthy self-structure and enables people to navigate the complexities of life effectively. This, in turn, lays the foundation for agency. Gratitude complements this by fostering humility, enhancing our interactions with others, and improving our overall well-being 2.

Together, agency and gratitude drive contentment and peace, enabling individuals to lead fulfilled lives. They shape how we interact with the world in a generative manner, both enhancing our personal well-being and contributing positively to our surroundings 3. Therefore, cultivating these qualities actively is akin to pursuing physical health; it involves understanding and taking deliberate actions to nurture mental and emotional strength 4.